Regulator for musical instruments.



W. B. FLEMING.

REGULATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1904.

9143,0532. Patented Jan.19,1909.

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fiTTO/P/VEYS W. B. FLEMING.

REGULATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V WMW////////////////// APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1904.

MIWmWl/Mm W/TNESSES W. B. FLEMING.

REGULATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28,1904.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

7 W E: m 5 WT iw M0 M0 77 J J H WILLIAM B. FLEMING, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

REGULATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed July 28, 1904; Serial No. 218,550.

Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Regulators for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments in which a plurality of perforated music sheets are used and more particularly to organs provided with a number of manuals where it is necessary to use a separate music sheet for each manual; and

' I the object thereof is to produce a mechanism' which will enable two or more perforated music sheets, each operating a separate and independent part of an organ, to run synchronously so that all the parts will play together. I accomplish this object by the mechanism described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1-- is a perspective view of a tracker board for two manuals provided with my improved regulating device. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, other parts being in elevation. Fig. 3- is a section on line 33 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5- is a section on line 55 of Fig; 3. Fig. (5, is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit of the regulator.

In the drawings 5 and 6 designate the side pieces of the frame which are secured to a base 7, both being preferably of hard wood for-the purpose of insulating the various parts and contacts placed thereon. In these side pieces are mounted the upper and lower music drums 8 and 9 which carry perforated music sheets 10 and 11. The upper and lower take-up rolls 12 and 13 receive the music sheet as fast as it is played, and as they revolve the music is wound thereon and unwound from the music drums. The take-up rolls are provided with gears 14 and 15, respectively, which mesh with pinions, one of which 16 is shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism so far explained is of ordinary construction, such as that described in my Patent No. 659,442 of October 9th, 1900.

Pinion 16 is mounted upon shaft 17 which passes through side pieces 5 and 6 and is provided with a metallic disk 18 adjustably secured upon the shaft by screw 19 (see Fig. 2). In the periphery of this disk is adjustably secured a' detent finger 20 which is adapted to pass between teeth 21 on the pe-- riphery of. a drum 22 slidably mounted upon shaft 17. The inner end ofthe hub of this drum is chambered at 23 for the reception of a coiled spring 24 which normally keeps drum-22 at such distance from disk 18 that detent finger 20 will not engage the teeth 21 thereof. -Dr1'1m 22 is provided with sprocket teeth 25 over which chain 26 passes connecting with sprocket wheel 27 mounted on driving shaft 28 to which power is applied to drive the apparatus.

lVithin drum 22 and rigidly secured thereto is a double electro-magnet29 which, when energized as hereinafter explained, attracts disk 18 so that'the drum 22 is drawn along the shaft against the pressure of spring 24 to a point where teeth 21 are engaged by finger 20, thereby rotatively locking the drum to shaft 17. Upon the outer end of drum 22 is a bushing 30 of insulating material, upon which is mounted a contact ring 31 to which one end of the windin 32 of the magnet is secured, the other end being grounded on the drum. A contact 33 is socured to a rod 34 mounted in socket 35 which is secured to side piece 5. This socket is connected by wire 36 with binding post 37 secured to the frame 38 of exhaust wind box 39. Bindingpost 37 is connected by wire 40 with collar 41 mounted upon stem 42 which rests upon pneumatic 43 within exhaust wind box 39. Stem 42 carries a metallic disk 44 adapted to engage spring c011- tacts 45 and 46 when the pneumatic 43 is collapsed. casing 38, being connected together by a short length of wire and to battery 47 by wire 48. The other pole of battery 47 is connected by wire 49 to binding post 50 secured to side piece 5 and on which is pivotally mounted These contacts are secured to y a metallic bar 51 to which is secured a brush contact 52 adapted to engage disk 53. This metallic bar is connected by wire 54 with a similar metallic bar 55, which last bar carries a brush contact 55' resting upon disk 18. The above mentioned disk 53 is an exact counter-part of disk 18 and is locked to its shaft by a second set of magnets 29 to drive the lower take-u roll 13. Bar 55 is'pivoted at 56 to a caring 57 secured to side piece 5, carries a brake block 58 and is connected by rod 59 with pneumatic 80 which is connected by air duct 61 with channel 62 in the casing of the exhaust wind box 39.

casing 38 and is connected at the top thereof through ports 69 and 70 to the atmosphere. Ports 73 and 74 connect channel 68 with the interior of box 39. Passing through the casing of box 39 is a stem 75 which rests upon the movable leaf of pneumatic 76. This stem carries valve 77 which is adapted to control ports 69 and 70, and valve 78 which is adapted to control ports 73 and 7 4. Pneumatic 76, which I will call the primary pneumatic, is connected by tube 79 with duct 80 of the tracker-board 81.

Within the exhaust wind box 39 is a secondary pnuematic 72 which is provided with a channel 72 similar to channel 68, which channel opens into exhaust wind box 39 through ports similar to those provided for a channel 68. These ports are controlled by valves of a similar character operated by a primary pneumatic 76" similar to pneu matic 76, said primary. pneumatic being connected by channel 7 2" and tubes with tracker duct 96 of tracker board 81 in the same manner as pneumatic 76 is connected to duct 80 of said tracker board.

lVithin box 39 is a secondary pneumatic 82 which is similar in construction and connections to the secondary pneumatic 13 before described and carries a stem similar to stem 42 carrying valves and contacts of the same construction and operation as the valves and contacts of stems 42. Collar 83 corresponding to collar 41 is connected by wire 84 with socket 85 carrying an adjustable rod 86 to which, is secured a contact 87 engaging contact ring 88 of the lower music roll mechanism, which is a duplication of the upper roll mechanism as before described, the sprocket of said mechanism being operated by chain 89 which passes over the sprocket 90 allixed to shaft 28. \Vire 48', corresponding to wire 48 of the pneumatic 43, leads from the contacts of secondary pneumatic 82 and connects with wire 48. Pneumatic 82 is provided with a channel 91 in all respects similar to channel 68 of )neumatic 43 and the ports through which said channel is connected with the interior of box 39 and the external air are governed and controlled by valves operated by a primary pneumatic 76 similar in all respects to primary 76, except that such primary pneumatic is connected by a channel 91 and tubes with duct 92 of tracker-board 93 of the lower music roll mechanism.

lVithin box 39 is a secondary pneumatic 94 which is provided with a channel matic is connected by channel 941 and tubes with tracker duct 95 of tracker-board 93 in the same manner as pneumatic 72 is connected by channels and tubes with duct 96 of tracker-board 81. Pneumatics 72 and 94 carry arms 98 and 99 which support and carry a stem 100. This stem carries valves 101 and 102, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 1. These valves are located in chamber 103 which is connected by channel 101 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 with the interior of pneumatic 105, the movable leaf of which carries an arm 105 through which the stems carried by pneumatics 43 and 82 pass. Chamber 103 is connected with the interior of exhaust wind-box 39 through port 111, which port is controlled by valve 101, and with the exterior air through port 108, which port is controlled by valve 102 shown in dotted lines. A spring 109 bears upon a button to normally keep the valve 101 on its seat. The tension of this spring is such that neither of pneumatics 72- and 91 have sufficient power to overcome the tea sion of this spring to unseat the valve 101, but when both act together they have sutlicient power to overcome the tension of this spring and to unseat valve 101 and seat valve 102 thereby putting pneumatic 105 in communication with the exhaust wind box 39. Pneumatic 105 is thereby collapsed and has power sufficient to hold pneumatics 13 and 82 from being operated or to collapse either of said pneumatics if inflated.

The music sheets are provided with short perforations 106 and 106 which are adapted to register with tracker-ducts 80 and 92 as the sheets travel and also provided with elongated perforations 107 and 107 which extend beyond the extremities of the short perforations 106 and 106 as shown, and are adapted to register with tracker-ducts 95 and 96 as the sheets travel. \Vhen the upper and lower music rolls are traveling properly these elongated perforations 107 and 107 register with the tracker ducts 95 and 96 thereby permitting the air to enter the tubes which lead to the primary pneumatics that control the admission of air into secondary pnenmatics 72 and 94:. These pneumatics are thereby permitted to expand, which carries valve 101 off its seat and valve 102 onto its seat and puts pneumatic 105 in communication with exhaust wind box 39, thereby collapsing said pneumatic, which through its arm 105 holds pneumatics 43 and 82 from expanding when the short pering its collapse.

forations 106 and 106 register with trackerducts 80 and 92, and the circuits therefore remain closed. Now should one of the music rollers, say the upper, be in advance in its travelover that of the lower, when the elongated perforation 107 registers with trackerduct 96 the primary pneumatic connected therewith will expand and open the channel which leads into pneumatic 72. As before stated, the power of pneumatic '72 is not sufficient to raise stem 100 against the tension of spring 110, and the sheet continues to move until perforation 106 registers with duct 80. This admits air into the primary pneumatic connected therewith, opening the channel which leads to pneumatic 4-3 to the open air, and closing it to the suction box, thereby permitting said pneumatic to expand and carry contact 44: from engagement with the contact springs and 16. The circuit is thus broken and magnet 29 is deen'ergized, spring 24; then pushing teeth 21 from engagement with finger and the revolution of disk 81 and shaft 17 stops, but the sprocket wheel 22 still continues to revolve.

In order to more positively insure the stoppage of the revolution of shaft 17 I have provided a brake block 58 which is secured to bar to engage disk 18. This bar is connected by rod 59 to the movable leaf of pneumatic 60, which pneumatic is connected by tube 61 with channel 6:2 so that when pneumatic -13 is expanded said channel is in communication with exhaust box 39 and pneumaticGO collapses and draws the brakeblock into engagement with the disk and thereby prevents its rotation. As shaft 17 operates the take-up roll, as soon as its movement ceases the take-up roll and the upper music roll become stationary. As soon as the elongated perforation 107 of the lower music roll registers with tracker-duct 05 the air passes through said duct into the prin'iary pneumatic which controls the admission of air into the channel leading to pneumatic 94tthereby opening said channel to the outer air and permitting the air to enter said pneumatic and the, same to expand, thereby adding its power' to the power of pneumatic T2. The combined power of these pneumatics overcomes the tension of spring 110 and puts pneumatic 105 in communication with the exhaust wind box, caus- Arm 105 forces pneumatic 43 to its collapsed position and brings contact 44 into engagement with contact springs 45 and 16 which reestablishes the circuit and again energizes the magnet to overcome the resistance of spring 2- and teeth 21 are again brought into engagement with finger 20 and. the revolution of shaft 17 again commences. As soon as the perforations 107 and 107' have passed out of register with ducts- 95 and 90, spring 112 restores pneumatic 105 which pneumatic is connected to the primary pneumatic. It will be understood that these elongated perforations extend a sufficientedistance beyond the extremities of,

the short perforations 100 and 106 that when a sheetis stopped it will be started again by the time the short perforation in the traveling sheet registers with its appropriate duct. 1

If desired the primary pneumatics can be dispensed with and the secondary pneumatics may be connected with the proper ducts in the tracker-board as described in my Patent No. 659,442 of date October 9th, 1900, but I prefer their use as thereby a much quicker and more perfect action of said secondary pneumatics is obtained.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. In a regulator for musical instruments, two independently traveling music sheets;

each provided with perforations arranged in pairs consisting of a long and a short perforation; a take;up roll for each of said sheets; a clutch mechanism connected with each of said take-up rolls, said clutch mechanism consisting of a shaft; a sprocket wheel revoluble upon said shaft; an electro-magnet secured to said wheel; a metallic disk secured to said shaft and forming an armature for said electro-magnet; a spring on said shaft between said disk and wheel and adapted to'keep them separated when the electroanagent is inert; a battery; an electric line having two stationary contacts therein connecting one pole of said battery to said electro-magnet; a second electric line connecting the other pole of said battery with said electro-magnet; a movable disk between said stationary contacts; pneumatic means for controlling said movable disk whereby the circuit through said electro-magnet is made and broken; and means to operate said sprocket wheels.

2. In combination a perforated music sheet provided with perforations arranged in pairs consistin of an elongated and a short perforation, sald elongated perforation being arranged to project beyond the extremities of the short perforations; a trackerboard over which said music sheet is arranged to travel, said t 'acker board having duets with which said elongated and short perforations register; a suction air chamher; pneumatics in said air chamber into which said ducts open; a metallic disk operatively connected to one of the pneumatics by a stem projecting through the walls of said air chamber; a pneumatic without said air chamber; an arm on said exterior pneumatic adapted to engage the stem which carries the disk and prevents its movement when said exterior pneumatic is collapsed; a channel connecting said exterior pneumatic with said air chamber and with the exterior air; valves operatively connected with the other pneumatic within said air chamber adapted to govern the communica tion of said exterior pneumatic with the air chamber and exterior air; a take-up roll; a clutch mechanism consisting of a sprocket wheel 'revoluble upon a shaft; an electromagne't connected to said wheel; a shaft on which said sprocket wheel is revoluble; a metallic disk secured to said shaft and forming an armature for said electro-magnet; a spring on said shaft between said disk and wheel adapted to keep them separated when the electro-magnet is inert; a pinion on saidshaft; a ear on the take-up roll meshing with sai pinion; a battery; an electric line having two stationary contacts therein connecting one pole of said battery to said electro magnet, said contacts being adapted to be engaged by the disk carried by the pneumatic in-the air chamber; a second electric line connecting the other pole of said battery with said electro-magnets.

3. In a regulator for musical instruments, two independently traveling music sheets each provided with perforations arranged in pairs consisting of an elongated and a short perforation; electrically operated clutches adapted to control the movement of said music rolls; pneumatically actuated mechanism governed by said perforations arranged to control the circuits whereby said clutches are operated; and pneumatically operated brake mechanism adapted to engage said clutch mechanism when one of the music sheets is stopped.

4. In a regulator for musical instruments, two independently traveling music sheets each provided with perforations arranged in pairs consisting of a long and a short perforation; said long perforations projecting beyond the extremities of the short perforations; tracker-boards over which said music sheets are arranged to travel, said tracker-board having duets with which said perforations register; a suction air chamber; pneumatics in said air chamber into which said ducts open; for each of said music sheets a take-up roll; a gear secured thereto; a shaft; a pinion secured thereto meshing with the gear onthe take up roll; a sprocket wheel revoluble upon said shaft; an electromagnet secured to said wheel; a metallic disk secured to said shaft and forming an armature for said electro-magnet; a battery; an electric line having two stationary contacts therein connecting one pole of said battery to said electro-magnet; a second electric line connecting the other pole of said battery With said electro-magnet; a movable disk between said stationary contacts'and adapted to connect the same; pneumatic means for controlling said movable disk governed by the perforations in the music sheets, whereby the circuits through said electro-magnets are made and broken; and means to operate said sprocket wheels.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of July, 1904:.

WILLIAM B. FLEMING.

, Witnesses:

G. E. I'IARPHAM, HENRY P. HAZARD. 

